Richard Bird, born George Bird on the 4th of April 1895, was an actor and director of stage and screen. He took the stage name Richard Bird after being nicknamed 'Dickie' by his theatre colleagues. After working in a newspaper office for a year he made his stage debut as a member of the Liverpool Repertory Company in 1917 and went on to appear on both the London and American stage, making his film debut in some silent shorts during 1919.
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| Chamber Of Horrors (1940) |
He appeared in films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, such as 'Tilly of Bloomsbury' (1931 ) and 'Mimi' (1935) plus playing the lead roles in 'The Warren Case' (1934) and 'What Happened Then?' (1934). His film roles of the 1930s tended towards melodrama, such as the jealous Ernest in 'The Water Gipsies' (1932), and the murderous Eric opposite Matheson Lang in 'The Great Defender' (1934). Middle-age made his characters more affable and his later films showcase his ability at light comedy, such as the sleepy Inspector Sneed in 'The Door with Seven Locks' (1940); ' Chamber Of Horrors' (1940); the dual role of bumbling Arthur and the Ghost in 'Don't Take It To Heart' (1944); and the dog-obsessed Jennings in 'Forbidden' (1949). He was the romantic lead in 'I'll Walk Beside You' (1943), and had one of his most high profile roles in the ensemble cast of Ealing's supernatural drama 'The Halfway House' (1944). He continued acting into the 1950s and 1960s, mainly in television series such as 'Ivanhoe', 'Probation Officer' and 'Public Eye', as well as small roles in a couple of the 'Edgar Wallace Mysteries' films.
He directed the 1938 film version of Edgar Wallace's 'The Terror' as well as the 1943 stage adaptation of Graham green's 'Brighton Rock' at the Garrick Theatre, London. Two of the cast members in the production, Richard Attenborough and Hermionne Baddeley reprised their roles in the Boulting brothers' acclaimed film version of 1947.
In 1931 he married Birmingham born stage actress Joyce Barbour at St. Pancras Register Office.in London. He died in Northwood, Middlesex in 1979 aged 84.
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/04/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-leslie.html
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